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Art Exhibition “DEPTH OF HOPE”

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Visitors are watching the paintings/Photo by: Koam Tivea

On Thursday, February 25, 2010, I’ve visited an art exhibition at REYUM INSTITUTE with some of my classmates. “Dept of Hope” is the topic of this exhibition which started from 25 February, 2010 to 08 April, 2010. During this occasion, 22 beautiful paintings by artist Chhim Sothy are showing there. So far, he has exhibited his artwork in many exhibitions in Phnom Penh, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, France and the US.

Chhim Sothy said that he had been working on this series of 22 paintings for more than 2 years and had tried to find quiet moments and spaces to do this but it was not easy. Each one of these paintings has meanings about nature and human beings, and he also tries to work with traditional themes and motifs while using mixed media and contemporary arts techniques.

His hope is that other artists get inspiration from his work and dare to explore traditional topics in a contemporary way. He himself has been trained in traditional painting techniques.

Chhim Sothy was born in Kandal Province in 1969 and he studied traditional painting, poster design, and modern painting at the Department of plastic Arts, Royal University of Fine Arts from 1985 to 1996. He is the deputy director of the Department of Fine Arts and Handicrafts at the Ministry of Culture.

Exhibition on the topic “Dept of Hope” is part of Reyum’s ongoing efforts to provide a platform for artists to get exposure, thus encouraging them to continue their creative work. This exhibition get the support from THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION, THE ALBERT KUNSTADTER FAMILY FOUNDATOIN, and THE PRINCE CLAUS FUND.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

Written date: 04/03/2010

Related post: Chhim Sothy Paintings Price List

REYUM Institute Website: www.reyum.org

Price List of Chhim Sothy Paintings

N Khmer Title English Title Painting Size Price
1 បុរីក្រហម Red city 102 x 127 cm $1200
2 មនុស្ស និង ធម្មជាតិ Men and nature 100 x 127 cm $950
3 សំពត់ពណ៌លឿង Yellow robe 91 x 91 cm $500
4 គ្រួសារសិល្បករ Artist’s family 102 x 152 cm $1500
5 ក្តីសង្ឃឹម Hope 91 x 91 cm $500
6 អារម្មណ៍រំភើប Emotion 120 x 120 cm $990
7 សត្វស្លាប Bird 90 x 90 cm $500
8 ធម្មជាតិ Nature 120 x 120 cm $990
9 ក្រោមដំបូលថ្មី Under the new roof 180 x 92 cm $2500
10 បរិស្ថានដ៏ល្អ Best environment 102 x 102 cm $700
11 ការចងចាំ Memory 102 x 128 cm $1300
12 រដ្តសង្សារ Life cycle 73 x 92 cm $500
13 ជីវិតអាថ៌កំបាំង Abstract life 120 x 120 cm $990
14 ព្រះគង្គា Water goddess 120 x 80 cm $900
15 ពិភពលោកថ្មី New world 111 x 142 cm $1200
16 សំណង់ថ្មី New building 82 x 110 cm $750
17 សេចក្តីស្នេហា Love 91 x 122 cm $750
18 ក្រោយសង្គ្រាម After war 105 x 95 cm $750
19 របាំ Dancing movement 127 x 100 cm $900
20 បាតុភូតធម្មជាតិ Natural phenomenon 127 x 100 cm $900
21 អាឡោះអាល័យគ្រួសារ Nostalgia 120 x 120 cm $990
22 ភាពស្ងប់ស្ងាត់នៃពណ៌ក្រហម Red silence 122 x 122 cm $1100

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

Written date: 04/03/2010

Related post: Art Exhibition “DEPTH OF HOPE”

REYUM Institute Website: www.reyum.org

DMC Night Film Screening

Nine movies, shot by students at Department of Media and Communication (DMC), were screened on the wide white clothe in the evening of Saturday, the 28 of February, 2010 from 7 pm to 9 pm. Those films were created by DMC year 3 and year 4 students for their assignments and theses. This was the first time for those films to be shown in public, and that attracted a lot of audiences both Cambodians and foreigners. This event was organized by Dr. Tilman, DMC lecturer, and assisted by Mr. Mony, DMC stuff, and hosted by Meta house organization.

Of those 9 documentaries, five were short which took around 5 minutes each because they had been done for class assignment. However, the last four films, the final thesis for year 4 students of DMC, had around 15 minutes length for each.

Audiences enjoyed watching those film very much, and  the sound of hand clapping was generally heard at the end of each film.

After the shows finished, the representative of each films stood in front of audiences to answer the questions and also to recall both their experiences and difficulties in making those documentary films.

With the success in the first show, DMC will show documentary films by DMC students like this again every last Saturday of the month. The topics range from controversial political subjects to the general life in Cambodia.

Encouraged by the success of this event, DMC decided to conduct DMC student-made documentary films show every last Saturday of each month.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

Written date: 28/02/2010

For META HOUSE website click here

Cambodian school adopting Japanese method enjoys popularity

A private school in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh adopting Japanese-style teaching in music, painting and other subjects is enjoying high popularity.

The school’s principal, 60-year-old Yasuo Anzai, was an assistant principal at a junior high school in Saitama Prefecture before going to Cambodia, leaving his family behind in the city of Saitama eight years ago.

In Cambodia which has been struggling to overcome the legacy of the terror reigned Pol Pot era, he said, ”I’d like to help children who will create a new era.”

In December, ”Edelweiss,” a song from the musical ”The Sound of Music,” echoed in downtown Cambodia where barrack cabins and tenements are lined up. Several children played keyed harmonicas in front of the ”Bamboo and Wind School,” about 4.5 kilometers southwest of the Royal Palace.

”In this country, music education materials for children are very limited. I’m teaching them painting and music to brush up their sensitivity,” Anzai said.

Painting and music are rarely taught in elementary school in Cambodia.

His school offers morning, afternoon and night classes, and some 100 children aged 5 to 18 are attending. With six local teachers in their teens through 20s, the school is teaching how to read and write Khmer, the official Cambodian language, and mathematics, and instructing music and painting. They also teach some selected students Japanese and English.

To help them gain a better understanding of life and ethics, the school has also adopted Japanese-style teaching, such as radio gymnastics and evaluation meetings after lessons.

”It’s enjoyable to be able to study things different from Cambodian schools,” a 9-year-old boy said. ”The school has become a bit of a popular school (in Cambodia).”

The school collects $3 a month per child from their parents to pay for utilities. The amount is much smaller than tuition at other public schools and support from his former school colleagues in Japan covers the shortfall caused by educational material expenses and salaries for teachers.

Supporters also include Rotary clubs in Shibata, Niigata Prefecture, and Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture.

Anzai said, ”Education is indispensable for the development of a country. I’d like to work hard as if I were still young.”

He taught social studies at junior high schools in Saitama Prefecture and other locations for about 30 years and also assumed the post of deputy principal. Impressed by Cambodia children during his trip to the country in 1998, he came to Cambodia after his retirement.

In Cambodia, the memories of the Indochina War and massacres are still intact. ”The country is a small country tormented by wars and the big powers. It has kept my attention ever since the Vietnam War,” he said.

”Although Cambodian industry is still lagging behind, graduates from our school will take on various professions in the future,” he said, adding his school will start computer classes.

Source: Khmerization

For full story click here

Khmer Language taught in state schools in Thailand

Mr. Cheymongkol teaching Khmer Surin kids in Surin province.

Mr. Cheymongkol teaching Khmer Surin kids in Surin province./Photo by: Cheymongkol

Khmer language will be taught in Thai schools in 2010, starting with 2-3 schools in Surin province, said. Mr. Cheymongkol, a Khmer Surin who has been making great efforts to teach Khmer Surin kids the Khmer language in his privately-run schools for the last three years.

The 2-3 schools to teach Khmer language are in Svay and Rumduol villages in Surin province. Mr. Cheymongkol said, currently, he needs Khmer textbooks and teaching materials as well as qualified teachers.

Mr. Cheymongkol said he is seeking assistance from the Cambodian government to help providing qualified teachers and some financial assistance to get the Khmer literacy programs in Surin up the ground. In March, he will travel to Siem Reap and Phnom Penh to search for qualified Khmer teachers and to collect Khmer textbooks bought with donations from Khmer expatriates in the United States.

Mr. Cheymongkol, a Khmer native born in Thailand’s Sisaket province opposite Preah Vihear temple, has been instrumental in the teaching of Khmer language to Khmer natives in Thailand, with some financial assistance from Khmer expatriates in America, Australia, France and Norway.

Source: Khmerization

For full story click here

My Comment

I was browsing through the Khmerization blog the other day when I found the above article. I think it’s good that Khmer Langugae can be taught in Thailand because doing that can help Cambodian children who live in Thailand are able to study thier national language.

After reading this article, what is your opinion? (Click on the phrase “Leave a Comment” below to show up your idea related to this article…)

The First Concert in Kampot in 2010

Hundreds of people gathered to see a concert celebrated in Kampot football stadium since it is the first concert in Kampot province this year. Audience weren’t allowed to take their vehicle into the stadium, so plenty of motors and bicycles were parked in the parking places outside. Both inside and outside the stadium, a lot of people were selling their products and most of the products were sold with a lot of discount.

This two-days concert started from 30th January,2010 until 31st January, 2010, and it attracted audience not only in the center of the province but also people who live in the nearby districts. Sponsored by a big mobile phone service, Mobitel, there were a lot of famous singer stars attended in this concert such as Sereymon, Classic band, and so on. This concert started from 4 o’clock in the afternoon and finish around 11 o’clock at night. Because there were polices at the entrance door to check the security, no one can bring weapon into the stadium and there were no fighting during the two-days concert.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

Written Date: 01/02/2010

Conference on Free Software in Phonm Penh

Conference on the Sharing Knowledge

Guest speakers from different countries are giving a speech/Photo by: Koam Tivea

A conference on the Sharing of Knowledge, “Open Knowledge, Free Culture”, was held on January 8th, 2010 from 8:00AM – 12 PM at the Meeting Hall of Institute of Foreign Language (IFL), Russian Blvd, Toul Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambdodia.

This conference brings together scholars and experts from Cambodia, Indonesia, Germanyand Philippines, and it is sponsored by Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service, DAAD).

This conference mainly discusses about the rise of “free software” that it is a part of a culture of sharing. However, there are many sub topics that are being discussed during the conference such as: Under-mining Abundance in the Information Sector, OpenSource and Open Knowledge, Blogging in Cambodia, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and video anarchy in the Philippine context, and Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and Copyright.

Written by: Dara Saoyuth

Written Date: 09/01/2010